William Allen High School Class of 1988

1858 Fourteen students enrolled at Allentown High School. Classes met with Prof. R.W. As enrollment increased, classes met in several different buildings. Prof. J.

McAlpine at South Penn Street, near the present Allentown School District Administration Building. McAlpine was succeeded by Prof. Armagnac, Rev. Tobias Kessler, and Dr. R.K. Buehrle, who became the first Superintendent of Schools in 1867.
1869 First Commencement ceremony graduated three students at First Presbyterian Church, N. 5th St., June 30.
1880 Mr. Francis Dimmick Raub was principal until

1893, when he took the position of Superintendent.
1894 Allentown erected a new building for high school classes (now Central Elementary) at Lumber and Turner Streets. The "Canary and Blue" was founded by Mr. Warren Fritsch ('03), who remained a teacher at Allen until his retirement in 1954.
1916 Principal Daniel Hamm opened the doors of the present building on Seventeenth Street. Construction and furnishings: $585,034.32. He served as principal until 1943.
1925 Ninth grade students, until then attending Allen, begin attending the new Francis D. Raub school.
1927 Allentown adopts a 6 - 3 - 3 (elementary, junior high, senior high) grade system.
1929 Jack Coffield Stadium dedicated at Eighteenth and Turner Streets.
1930 Newly constructed Annex and Little Palestra opened. "Blue Gates" were hung.
1946 Mr. Clifford S. Bartholomew succeeds Dr. James W. Richardson as principal.
1957 Linden Street Wing opened, housing vocational shops and music facilities.
1960 In recognition of the District’s second, newly-built Louis E. Dieruff High School, Allentown High School changed its name to William Allen High School.
1969 Mr. Samuel A. Miller takes position as principal.
1971 Allen vocational students began attending the new Lehigh County Area Vocational Technical School in Schnecksville, PA. On July 1, Dr. John F. McHugh succeeds Mr. Miller, who becomes Director of Secondary Education.
1973 J. Milo Sewards Gymnasium and David R. Hacket Natatorium opened on the site of former Coffield Stadium. Art Center opens in Linden Wing.
1975 Library-Science Center opened on the site of former Little Palestra. Cafeteria Annex and Student Center open, replacing the former girls' physical education area.
1981 Main, Annex, and St. Cloud buildings received extensive renovation: additional administrative offices, new suites for guidance and heath, modern facilities for home economics and biology, and new lockers and windows. The District switched to a 5 - 3 - 4 (elementary, middle, high) grade system. Ninth graders from Raub, South Mountain, and Trexler middle schools attend William Allen.
1982 Mr. Ray Erb succeeds Dr. McHugh as principal. Allentown District stadium redesignated to honor legendary coach, J. Birney Crum.
1988 Allen's gymnasium in the Physical Education Center renamed J. Milo Sewards Gymnasium, in honor of the social studies teacher, coach, and athletic director who served from 1942 to 1982.
1991 Mr. Louis P. DeLorenzo succeeds Dr. Erb as principal. Black Box Theatre and Dance Studio opened in basement of Annex, Library renovated, and several classrooms converted to computer laboratories with high-speed internet access.
1999 Mr. Keith R. Falko succeeds Mr. DeLorenzo as principal. William Allen Construction Company, students in partnership with local business, continues to renovate our facilities. Multiple refurbishment projects completed.
2001 Rising enrollment requires the division of several larger classrooms into smaller spaces.
2004 Annex receives external masonry conservation and repair.
2007 St. Cloud Building demolition for construction of new Grade 9 Facility. Temporary relocation of affected classrooms to former Allentown Business School location (Lehigh Street Campus).
2010 Clifford S. Bartholomew Building opens on 17th Street to house offices and classrooms during extensive renovations to campus.

11/26/2023

Shout out to everyone that attended and made it a truly amazing night. We had a number of classmates that had never been to a reunion and that’s what makes this all worth while. Incredible gratitude to all of you that donated this year and years passed. If you wanted to donate and couldn’t connect with one of us feel free to text 610-751-7800 (we’re happy to accept for the 40th)
We’re looking for more photos from last night so please text them to 610-751-7800 if you don’t mind sharing.

Thanks again and see you in 5 years. 🍻🥂

11/10/2023

UPDATE:

We will now have a live band The Buzz playing from 8-12. They’re know for great 80’s/90’s music
The free drinks start at 7 and go till the money is gone. There will also be plenty of free food the entire evening.
Pro tip: come early if you like free booze

Saturday November 25, 7pm at the Shanty

No tickets needed for this casual event. Just come by and share some drinks, laughs and memories.

If you’re from the class of 87 or 89 we’d love to see you guys as well. Please don’t hesitate to stop by.

Upon arrival please look for Kim, Jay, Tammy or Kathy for a wristband (for the drinks)

We will graciously be accepting donations for that night and future reunions. It’s our hope Bill Minahan won’t be the only generous classmate. Even $20 helps and it’s still a very cheap night out!

Questions, comments or donations reach out to any of the 4 of us.

11/02/2023

ARE YOU READY???

Saturday November 25 at 7pm at the Shanty!!

No tickets needed for this casual event. Just come by and share some drinks, laughs and memories.

There’s going to be a DJ, light appetizers, and drinks non stop.

We are making this a FREE EVENT for as long as the money lasts meaning it’s free drinks until our cash is gone.
A huge shoutout to Bill Minahan for again being amazingly generous. ❤️
We know there’s many more successful classmates and would appreciate any donation possible to keep the party going.

If you’re from the class of 89 we’d love to see you guys as well. Please don’t hesitate to stop by.

To donate contact Jay Charlie at 610-751-7800 or over messenger.

07/08/2019

Hey fellow Allen Alum, lets give Dominic Germano our thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery. He helped us pull off an epic reunion so it’s the least we can do!

11/29/2018

How about that 30 year reunion? 👍

11/11/2018

Pics from high school to share? Bring them on! 😃

11/10/2018

2 weeks away!!! Get your tickets now! PayPal link in the comments

04/08/2018

Here is the link for prepurchased tickets in case you missed it in earlier posts.
Just tap on it and follow the easy instructions. If you don’t have paypal you can send a check payable to:
William Allen Class of 1988 and mail it to
1169 Fairmont st Whitehall PA 18052.
Tickets are $25 per person and will be rising as we get closer to the big day.
If neither of these payment options work send Jay Charlie a FaceBook message.

Pay Jay Charlie using PayPal.Me Go to paypal.me/WILLIAMALLEN1988 and type in the amount. Since it’s PayPal, it's easy and secure. Don’t have a PayPal account? No worries. Getting one is fast and free.

10/31/2013

25th Reunion - Rascals 11/23/13
'88 Alumni and guest
$25/person by September 30th
$30/person by October 31st
$35/person by November 15th
$45/person at the door
Non-Alumni
$35/person by November 15th
$45/person at the door